writing

Revisiting Out of Africa: A Timeless Classic

/ Susan A. Royal / Leave a comment

Some movies deserve to be revisited from time to time. Out of Africa is one of them.  The 1985 movie, based on the 1937 autobiography by Karen Blixen, stars Meryl Streep and Robert Redford. It won seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director. John Barry won an Oscar for the musical score, and David Watkin won an Oscar for cinematography.

My sister and I were talking about a Facebook Post I’d shared with her about the movie one day over lunch with my daughter-in-law, Nicole. She’d never seen it, so when we got back to the Airbnb, we watched it. Of course, my son remembered it as that four-hour movie about Africa. But she liked it, and I enjoyed watching it again for the first time in a long time.

It takes place before and during WWI. On the way to Nairobi, British East Africa, to marry Baron Bror Blixen, Karen meets big game-hunter Denys Finch Hatton. She manages their coffee, while Bror lives a life of leisure, going on safaris and pursuing other women. Eventually, they separate. Karen and Denys fall in love, and he stays with her when he’s not traveling. They share a love for Africa and its people. She wants to make their relationship official, but he prefers his independence.  He assures her he wants only her, but marriage doesn’t matter to him. She only wants to belong to someone. This eventually drives them apart.

When a fire destroys the coffee plantation along with the factory, Karen is forced to return home. Shortly before she leaves, Denys comes to her and admits that his feelings for her have changed. He asks to join her on her journey back after a flight to Tsavo. Sadly, his plane crashes, and he is killed.

She buries him on a hill on the plantation, a place where lions often visit, and leaves, never returning to Africa.

It was visually stunning, and the music was poignant and moving. I loved Meryl Streep’s character as well. She was a brave and compassionate woman who truly cared for the Kikuyu people living and working on her plantation. I could not help but admire her for her self-reliance at a time and place when women weren’t encouraged to be independent.

And of course, there was Robert Redford. It’s funny. He was a good actor, but he wasn’t one of my favorites until he got older. The characters he played always seemed to have something profound to say, and when he said it, you believed him. If you haven’t seen it, or haven’t seen it in a while, watch it again. You’ll be glad you did.

DON’T MISS OUT!

/ Susan A. Royal / Leave a comment

Reasons to Attend the NETWO Writing Conference:

If you’re an aspiring author and you’ve never attended a writers’ conference, why not?

In the past, I’ve had the opportunity to go to the annual conference held by the Northeast Texas Writers’ Organization. NETWO’s annual Spring Conference will be held this year on April 5, 2025, at Northeast Texas Community College.

Attending has allowed me to see and visit with old friends and network with writers from all over Texas. I’ve met some pretty neat people. Overall, it’s proven to be a fantastic experience that just seems to improve yearly.

I signed up for a one-on-one interview with an editor at my first conference. Did I have any idea what to expect? Absolutely not. You might compare my experience to jumping off a cliff with my eyes closed. Literally, I didn’t know the first thing about how to make a pitch and was so nervous I couldn’t breathe. But guess what? I survived.

It doesn’t matter whether you’re interested in the possibility of writing or have begun the process. Whether you’re looking for an agent/publisher or have already been published, I guarantee you will come away from the NETWO writing conference with something you can put to good use. You may get good advice on building your marketing plan or information on preparing your elevator pitch, query, or synopsis. You might be inspired by a speaker sharing his/her road to publication. You might talk to someone who has gone the small press or self-publish route and get their take on the subject.

I like to ‘collect’ characters. It’s always possible that I might see someone whose mannerisms or personality would be a perfect fit for my WIP or overhear some great dialog. Like any good writer, I’m always looking for ideas to file away for later use. I’ve been known to make observations while attending the conference. You just never know. My daughter Carrie is fond of telling people, “You’d better be careful what you say around my mother, or you’ll find yourself in one of her novels. And it might not be pretty.”

So, the next time you come across something about an upcoming writing conference and think it might be interesting, don’t just think about it. Register and attend. You’ll be glad you did.

Ready, set, GO!

/ Susan A. Royal / Leave a comment

Like every year since I can remember, I’ve spent my January putting away decorations, doing inventory, cleaning and purging. My thoughts as well as my space. Getting back into a routine and catching up with things I’ve let fallen behind with other the holidays. Like my blog. I did some serious reworking on it and it’s almost where I want it to be.

Like all writers (at least all the ones I know) I have a “thing” for cute little notebooks. One is a weekly/monthly planner I bought at the Dollar Store. I don’t know how I survived without it. It’s just the right size to carry in my purse. I use it to keep track of my appointments, bills, blog appearances, you name it. It keeps me from making promises I cannot keep. The other is a spiral notebook for lists (grocery, supplies, birthdays, Christmas) phone numbers and directions. Reminders to myself. Potential character names. Random thoughts I don’t want to forget. Websites I need to check. I do my best not to leave the house without either of these. (and a pen or pencil)

Not that I’m organized or anything. It’s just that if I don’t write it down, I’ll forget it!!!